Practice Imperfect

MINI EPISODE 2 QUARANTINE POEM SHOW NOTES We wrote and recorded this mini episode to provide a little encouragement during the harrowing uncertainty of the covid-19 outbreak. Recorded on phones in people’s homes by our generous guests from Season 1: * Audrey Mayer, LCSW * Barbara Pfingst, MA Spiritual Guidance * Bonna Horovitz, LCSW * Elora Kalish, LCSW * Michelle Gardiner, LCSW And our hosts, Monica Griffin, Bill DeSiena and Ian Laidlaw Featuring music by Like Trees [https://practiceimperfectpodcast.com/like-trees/] The post Mini Episode 2: Quarantine Poem [https://practiceimperfectpodcast.com/mini-episode-2/] appeared first on Practice Imperfect [https://practiceimperfectpodcast.com].

EPISODE 19 A LETTER TO RAMY SHOW NOTES In this final episode of Season 1, we go out as we came in. Ian shares one of his life regrets in a moving and vulnerable podcast letter to a friend and reflects on fear, hope, love, friendship and failure. But also in the hope of bringing our shame into the light and creating space and community through that process. Like the best of our work as therapists. If you have been encouraged by our show, please consider helping us to develop Season 2 by donating to our GoFundMe campaign below. Any donations over $100 get a Practice Imperfect Tote Bag as a gift! And also our eternal gratitude. Supporters will also be listed on our website (unless you’d prefer to remain anonymous). Thanks again! GoFundMe [https://i2.wp.com/practiceimperfectpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/GoFundMe-olxxsntwvc073iutl6qxswvv26bic80i9dcvy0drri.png?w=1200&ssl=1] [https://www.gofundme.com/f/a-podcast-on-imperfect-psychotherapy]SOME ART FROM THAT COMIC BOOK IAN MENTIONS [https://i2.wp.com/practiceimperfectpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Laurence-sample-page-2-wtext.jpg?fit=738%2C1024&ssl=1][https://i0.wp.com/practiceimperfectpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/costumes-Freol-rotated.jpg?fit=1024%2C745&ssl=1][https://i2.wp.com/practiceimperfectpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/costumes-Garfum-rotated.jpg?fit=1024%2C745&ssl=1]The post Episode 19: A Letter to Ramy [https://practiceimperfectpodcast.com/episode-19/] appeared first on Practice Imperfect [https://practiceimperfectpodcast.com].

EPISODE 18 FAITH IN THE PROCESS GUEST: BARBARA PFINGST [https://i0.wp.com/practiceimperfectpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Barpara-Pfingst-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1]At an early age, Barbara realized there was a greater sense to the universe than what is physically before us. In her journey to name this sense, she sought various forums that provided a safe and open approach to spirituality. In her travels she encountered an African Shamanic group that taught her the value of rituals and initiations. She is engaged in energy healing events,  past life regression, dream and meditative journeying. Barbara is Reiki Master and a Minister in the Universal Life Church. She holds an Associate of Applied Science in Interpreting (1993), a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (2005), and a Masters of Arts in Spiritual Guidance (2015), from Sofia University in Palo Alto, California. Barbara is also a Nationally Certified American Sign Language Interpreter and fluent in American Sign Language (ASL). Link [https://innerwisdomspace.com/]SHOW NOTES Have you ever had a client ask you to reveal your particular faith or religious practice as a condition of continuing to work together? How do we as therapists navigate the awkward moment when the client makes a demand to disclose our personal beliefs? In our latest unrehearsed role play, our therapist (played by Barbara Pfingst) keeps that ball of contemplation aloft with client “Jean” (played by Bill DeSiena), when this uncomfortable question invites self-disclosure of religious values and morals. Our client enters this session wrestling with their sister’s recent nonconforming behavior and distancing from a shared religious community, and whether it’s ok not to have a relationship with the sister because of it. What develops in session is our client considering whether other important relationships should be renegotiated, or even ended – including the reveal that the deepening relationship with therapist Barbara is on the chopping block too, should she either choose to withhold this information, or reveal values incompatible with Jean’s. In Episode 18, we watch the unfolding angst between therapist and client, and we sense that yielding to the demand for self-disclosure is precarious at best. Our client effectively hangs in with an inner conflict of how their tenets of faith and moral compass should affect decisions about whom they love and connect with. We witness our therapist working cautiously to just be with the client, without succumbing to the client’s wishes. In the aftermath, Barbara de-roles and reveals how her own inner struggle with worthiness affected her as the therapist, while Bill as himself shares how his own past experience with dogmatic faith and codependency impacted the role of client Jean. We invite you to share with the PI community how you’ve dealt with faith-based values when they’ve entered the room with your client. The post Episode 18: Role Play – Faith in the Process [https://practiceimperfectpodcast.com/episode-18/] appeared first on Practice Imperfect [https://practiceimperfectpodcast.com].

EPISODE 17 LOVE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY PART 2 SHOW NOTES Our discussion about love in psychotherapy continues: How do we convey our affection for the client sitting across from us, without crossing the line of impropriety? Psychotherapy will most naturally invite a reenactment of patterns in a person’s life, between client and therapist. When we can with intention do something in the clinical relationship to break that reenactment, to invite a chance for repair and healing in, is it ok to tell our client that we really like, even love them? If you’re looking for a light and fluffy topic right now, this is not the episode for you. Head to the kitchen and make an omelet instead. In Part 2 of the Love Episode, we dive deeper into what it means when we genuinely care about our client, when the affection we feel is mutual. The potential for powerful healing is there, side-by-side with the fear that we risk mucking things up in this clinical setting. When a person isolating in extreme emotional pain sits across from us, beckoning for an external answer to finding happiness again, it is our capacity as a loving being who can show up to simply walk with them in their pain, as an act of love, reaffirming the power of human connection. What can bring comfort in the moment is not the path out, but the companionship that a therapist can provide when there seems to be nowhere else to go. Team PI discusses our own vulnerability in the therapist setting, what happens after we affectionately open up to a client that they matter to us, and muse on whether insurance companies could measure love as an evidenced-based tool – and what our progress notes would be like if they did. And by the way, we want you to know that we love you…our listeners. The post Episode 17: Love in Psychotherapy Part 2 [https://practiceimperfectpodcast.com/episode-17/] appeared first on Practice Imperfect [https://practiceimperfectpodcast.com].

EPISODE 16 LOVE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY PART 1 SHOW NOTES Have you ever told a client how much you like them? How you think you could be friends outside of a session, and maybe meet one day for a cup of coffee? Maybe even how you actually have feelings for them? Okay – stop the soft (or creepy) background music. We’re not talking about romantic feelings. But why and how we choose to show a client that we genuinely care for them, when doing so doesn’t disrupt their process and instead deepens it, is at the heart of this episode, Love in Psychotherapy. As professionals, we’re trained to maintain healthy boundaries, to hold back from displays of open affection toward clients, because to do otherwise could cause harm to them. We consider every client as an individual with unique challenges, yet the more common human thread for all surrounds the interpersonal issues we face. When taking a calculated risk in session to push that boundary, to offer a hug, to share words of affection, the clinical relationship can become a healing, even powerful experience for both therapist and client. It may be one of the few places for those we serve where it feels safe to just receive, devoid of some sticky obligation that doesn’t feel genuine. Our Practice Imperfect hosts discuss the riveting climax in the classic film Ordinary People, and how effective psychiatrist Dr. Berger softened the boundaries with his client Conrad in crisis to achieve an incredible breakthrough. Yes, this is Hollywood; also yes, components of their deeper relationship seem very real to our work. Team PI asks why it can feel weird after we ourselves become vulnerable with a client, and whether our own attachment styles come into play. Take a listen and also learn why Ian, Monica and Bill will not be going to the Oscars this year. THAT ORDINARY PEOPLE SCENE The post Episode 16: Love in Psychotherapy Part 1 [https://practiceimperfectpodcast.com/episode-16/] appeared first on Practice Imperfect [https://practiceimperfectpodcast.com].